Method and means for rolling channel sections



May 3, 1932. F" A. SCHULZ ET AL 1,356,269

METHOD AND MEANS FOR ROLLING CHANNEL SECTIONS Filed Sept. 25, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet l v 1;- F z May 3, 1932. PIA SCHULZ ET AL 1,856,269

METHOD AND MEANS FOR ROLLING CHANNEL SECTIONS Filed Sept. 25, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 .izeyc h I "I" I D:

1}"/ gwuewfom Hal/7' JIK/IIMIbZZk May 3, 1932. PHA SCHULZ ET AL 1,856,269

METHOD AND MEANS FOR ROLLING CHANNEL SECTIONS Filed Sept. 25, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet V 5 flarr [if/Hare; I. a.

Patented May 3, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAUL A. SCHULZ AND HARRY K. MAXWELL, OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, AS-

SIGNORS TO BETHLEHEM STEEL COMIANY, A GORFOR-ATION OF PENN SYLVANIA METHOD AND MEANS FOR ROLLING CHANNEL SECTIONS Application filed September 25, 1930. Serial No. 484,354.

This invention relates to the production of metal channel sections. More particularly it relates to processes and means for producing channels by rolling a blank in a universal mill.

The invention can probably be best set forth by describing an illustrative embodiment thereof. Accordingly, referring to the drawings Fi 1 illustrates across section of the blank to be used in rolling the section;

Fig. 2 shows a cross section of the blank in its first pass through the main mill of the universal mill;

Fig. 3 shows a cross section of the blank at a later stage, as it passes through supplemental rolls of the universal mill;

Fig. 4t shows a cross section of the blank in its last passage through the supplemental rolls of the universal mill;

Fig. 5 gives a cross section of the blank in its last pass through the main rolls of the universal mill;

Fig. 6 shows the blank in its passage through a standard mill having rolls particularly formed for effecting the main reduction of the heel portion of the blank as issued from the universal mill; and

Fig. 7 shows the section in its completed form resulting from passing through a standard mill having particular formed rolls.

The original blank having spaced flanges ll. web 12. and heels 13. opposite flanges 11,

is produced by rolling from a bloom; Fig. 1

representing the blank as making its last pass through rolls 11 and 15. y

The operations for changing this blank into the finished channel are first carried out in a universal mill comprising a stand of rolls A having horizontal rolls 16 and 17 and Vertical rolls 1S and a supplemental stand B having horizontal rolls 19 and 20. Following this operation in the universal mill the blank is passed through standard mills C and D diagraminatically shown in Figs. 6 and 7, having horizontal rolls 24 and 25 and 31 and 32 respectively, for finishing.

The upper horizontal roll 16 of the main universal mill stand has a web engaging, cy-

m lindrical portion 16, which constitutes by far the greater portion of the rolling surface. At the margin of this rolling surface there are circumferential grooves 16", of concave section, adapted to engage and reduce heels 13 of the blank.

Lower horizontal roll of the main universal mill possesses cylindrical surface 17 adapted to engage the web of the blank between the flanges and the lateral beveled surfaces 17" adapted to engage the inner surfaces of the blank flanges.

Vertical rolls 18 have cylindrical surfaces adapted to engage the outer faces of the blank flanges. The horizontal and vertical rolls of the main mill stand are adapted to be adjusted toward each other, pass by pass in the usual Way.

The upper roll 19 of the supplemental stand B has a cylindrical bearing surface 19 comprising the major portion of the bearing surface. Beginning at each edge of the cylindrical surface 19 the diameter of the roll gradually diminishes for a limited space, forming the gradually tapered surface 21.

The roll diameter then gradually increases to form the flared surfaces 22. These tapered and flaring surfaces gradually merge into each other, surfaces 21 and the adjoining portion of flared surfaces 22, forming concave grooves. The concave grooves are adapted to engage and reduce the heels of the blank.

Lower roll 20 of the supplemental stand has cylindrical surfaces 20, adapted to engage the inner web of the blank, and inclined lateral faces 23 adapted to engage the inner flange faces of the blank.

The blank is passed through the main mill, as indicated in Fig. 2, the flange and web portions 11 and 12 being both reduced. Simultaneously because of the engagement of groove 16 withheels 13, these heels are reduced. Upon this forward pass the supplemental mill is idle the only work being done by the main mill.

Upon the return pass the first work done upon the blank is effected by the supplemental mill. The web of the blank is but little reduced in the supplemental rolls, just enough work being done upon the Web to effect feeding of the blank through the rolls. The principal reduction by this supplemental mill is upon the heels and the adjacent surface of the flanges, that is, that portion of the blank which are engaged by surfaces 21 of roll 19.

In this same return pass of the blank the ing in action upon the forward passes and gage and reduce heels 13".

the supplemental mill and main mill both being in action during the returning passes.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate the final pass through the universal mill; this is a return pass, the blank passing first through stand B and then through stand A. In this last pass the supplemental rolls perform an additional function; that of edging the flanges. The flanges are of such length that the edges engage collars of lower roll 20. The

F in Fig. 5, possesses moderate sized heels 13".

The blank is now passed through standard mills C and D, shown in Figs. 6 and 7, to eliminate these heels and also to otherwise finish the shaping.

Standard mill C comprises horizontal rolls 24 and 25. Roll 24 possesses cylindrical r-olling surface 24 adapted to engage the outer web surface of the blank, and marginal in clined zones 26, which are adapted to en- Lower roll 25 is provided with cylindrical portions 25" adapt-- ed to engage the inner surface of the web of the blank and inclined surfaces 27 to engage the inner surfaces of the flanges of'the blank. Spaced fromthe inner surface 27 is collar 28 having slightly inclined faces 23' adapted to engage the outer faces of the blank flanges. These collars 28 project out from the rolls sufiicient ly so that the faces 28 overlap the outer faces of the working works down the heel portions leaving the outer edges of the bottom of the blank somewhat upwardly curved. The metal of the flanges is squeezed down into the grooves of roll 25, forming and finishing the surfaces thereof and rounding the edges.

The blank is finally passed through standard mill D. Upper roll 31 has a cylindrical working surface 31 which is adapted to engage the entire upper surface of the channel section. At the margins of this bearing surface are circular flanges 33 having flat inner faces 33, adapted to engage the outer flange faces of the blank. Lower roll 32 has cylinrical bearing surfaces 32' adapted to engage the inner web surface of the section, and lateral, inclined faces 32 adapted to engage the inner faces of the flanges. Passage of the blank through this mill finishes off the heel portion, forming sharp corners, this result being insured by the sharp corners formed between flat faces 33 of flange 33 and the straight cylindrical surfaces 31 of roll 31.

Having thus described our invention what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent' is:

1. In a process for rolling channel sections, the steps of forming a blank having spaced flanges on one side thereof, and spaced heels on the other side disposed approximately opposite to the flanges, rolling the blank alternately in a main stand of a universal mill to reduce the Web and flanges by means of flange and web engaging rolls and in a supplemental mill to reduce the heel portions.

2. In a process for rolling channel sections, the steps of forming a blank having spaced flanges on one side thereof, and spaced heels on the other side disposed approximately opposite to the flanges, rolling the blank alternately in a main stand of a: uni versal mill to reduce the web and flanges by means of flange and web engaging rolls and in a supplemental mill to reduce the heel portions, and finishing in a standard mill.

3. In a process for rolling channel sections, the steps of forming a blank having spaced flanges on one side thereof, and spaced heels on the other side disposed approximately opposite to the flanges, rolling the blank alternately in a main stand of a universal mill to reduce the web and flanges by means of flange and web engaging rolls and then rolling in a standard mill to eliminate the remainders of the heel portions.

4. In a process for rolling channel sections, the steps of forming a blank having spaced flanges on one side thereof, and spaced heels on the other side disposed approximately opposite to the flanges, rolling the blank'alternately in a main stand of a universal mill to reduce the web and flanges by means of flange and web engaging rolls, rolling in a standard mill to nearly eliminate the remainders of the heel portion and to round the edges of the flanges, and finally rolling in a standard mill to completely eliminate traces of the heel portions and to finish the surface of said section.

5. A universal mill, comprising a main stand having horizontal Web engaging and vertical flange engaging rolls, and a supplemental stand comprising a horizontal roll having a substantially uniform diameter for a large proportion of its length to provide a cylindrical surface, the diameter of the roll gradually diminishing somewhat toward each end and then gradually increasing to provide heel engaging and reducing surfaces.

In testimony whereof We hereunto afiix our signatures.

PAUL A. SCHULZ. HARRY K. MAXWELL. 

